MP3
One of the things that we have found as indispensable in heavy travels is a good MP3 player. Quite some time ago, we converted our entire CD collection to MP3 format (and our CDs are in storage collecting dust). A couple things that have become critical to this practice:
Need to bulk edit ID3 tags? I searched high and low for a decent ID3 tag editor... and really struggled to find one that was simple, reliable, and reasonably fast. I was happy to pay a few dollars for one that worked, but none were to be found. As I was about to give up, I found a great program that 100% meets my needs. It's called MP3Tag and is available as freeware. The interface is very simple and straightforward... it's not the fastest editor - but it is definitely the easiest.
Looking for an MP3 audio player for your computer? There are tons of players out there - both free and not-so-free. I've been through many of these players... and I always come back to Real Player. It's not the most feature rich player, but I like that it nicely ties into a couple of the paid services that I use (like NFL Field Pass). Real Player has a pretty quick start up time, and doesn't consumer lots of overhead while running.
Need a portable MP3 player? Seems like everyone's first choice is the Apple iPod. It's got a nice interface and a highly desireable form factor... but I always feel a need to be slightly different (and I always look for a better value). So, while the 20 gigabyte Apple iPod is about $299 (as of this writing), I've chosen a 20 gigabyte Dell Jukebox. The form factor isn't quite as nice as the iPod, but the Dell product is very durable, has a very long battery life, and interfaces very nicely into Windows Explorer (unlike earlier versions of the iPod). The Dell tends to be ~20% less than Apple.
We've outfitted our Dell Jukeboxes with a case from Belkin (it's a drawstring bag - which enable you to easily attach a neck strap and carry this brick around your neck)... so the Jukebox may not the lightest device outthere... but when you spend as much time in 4 hour taxi rides and long airline flights as we do - having your Jukebox around your neck ensure you don't drop it or forget it.
Need to bulk edit ID3 tags? I searched high and low for a decent ID3 tag editor... and really struggled to find one that was simple, reliable, and reasonably fast. I was happy to pay a few dollars for one that worked, but none were to be found. As I was about to give up, I found a great program that 100% meets my needs. It's called MP3Tag and is available as freeware. The interface is very simple and straightforward... it's not the fastest editor - but it is definitely the easiest.
Looking for an MP3 audio player for your computer? There are tons of players out there - both free and not-so-free. I've been through many of these players... and I always come back to Real Player. It's not the most feature rich player, but I like that it nicely ties into a couple of the paid services that I use (like NFL Field Pass). Real Player has a pretty quick start up time, and doesn't consumer lots of overhead while running.
Need a portable MP3 player? Seems like everyone's first choice is the Apple iPod. It's got a nice interface and a highly desireable form factor... but I always feel a need to be slightly different (and I always look for a better value). So, while the 20 gigabyte Apple iPod is about $299 (as of this writing), I've chosen a 20 gigabyte Dell Jukebox. The form factor isn't quite as nice as the iPod, but the Dell product is very durable, has a very long battery life, and interfaces very nicely into Windows Explorer (unlike earlier versions of the iPod). The Dell tends to be ~20% less than Apple.
We've outfitted our Dell Jukeboxes with a case from Belkin (it's a drawstring bag - which enable you to easily attach a neck strap and carry this brick around your neck)... so the Jukebox may not the lightest device outthere... but when you spend as much time in 4 hour taxi rides and long airline flights as we do - having your Jukebox around your neck ensure you don't drop it or forget it.
posted by Unknown @ 9:35 PM
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